Larry Millete convicted in Maya Millete murder after years of searches
Maya Millete vanished from Chula Vista in 2021. Her husband has now been found guilty, but her family is still searching for her body.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
A jury found Larry Millete guilty of first-degree murder on July 9, 2026, in the death of his wife, Maya Millete, more than five years after the 39-year-old mother of three disappeared from Chula Vista, California, according to CBS News.
Maya, also known as May, has still not been found. Her disappearance began as a missing-person search in January 2021 and became a case that drew relatives, neighbors and strangers into deserts, parks and roadside areas across Southern California.
The last sighting
CBS News reported that Maya was last seen on surveillance video on Jan. 7, 2021, arriving at the home she shared with Larry Millete. The couple had been married for 21 years.
According to CBS News, Larry was the last person known to have seen her. When Maya’s family asked where she was, he gave them different accounts of where she might have gone.
After two days without hearing from her sister, Maricris Drouaillet contacted the Chula Vista Police Department on Jan. 9, 2021. Relatives and friends began making flyers and pushing the public to help find her.
Maricris and her husband, Richard Drouaillet, later told CBS News they held out hope at first. They said their fear hardened when Maya did not appear for her daughter’s birthday.
Searches, warrants and mounting concern
Attorney Billy Little, described by CBS News as a former criminal defense investigator for the U.S. Navy, went to the Millete home on Jan. 11, 2021, after hearing about the disappearance. Little said Larry appeared unconcerned and that the house looked as though it was being aired out.
Two days later, Larry spoke to local media and asked Maya to come home. CBS News reported that relatives, friends and neighbors searched Mount San Miguel Park that same day.
On Jan. 23, 2021, Chula Vista police served a search warrant at the Millete home, seeking evidence that could help locate Maya. Investigators seized some of Larry’s guns, according to CBS News.
Police and Maya’s family made a public plea for information on Feb. 5, 2021. Searchers later formed the “Help Find Maya” effort, which CBS News said looked in areas including Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Otay Lakes and Marron Valley Road.
Spellcasting evidence and arrest
Little told CBS News he found evidence that Larry had bought spells online. According to Little, Larry first sought spells meant to make Maya love him again.
Police said that as the marriage deteriorated, Larry’s requests shifted toward harming Maya. CBS News reported that one message to a spellcaster said, “Please punish May and incapacitate her enough so she can't leave the house. It's time to take the gloves off.”
During the investigation, police served multiple search warrants at the Millete home. On May 7, 2021, Larry was served with a gun violence restraining order and was required to turn over more firearms, according to San Diego Superior Court records cited by CBS News.
Larry Millete was arrested in October 2021 on a murder charge. He pleaded not guilty and continued to say Maya had left voluntarily and abandoned the family, CBS News reported.
Family and friends have rejected that claim, saying Maya would not have willingly left her children. In August 2024, a judge granted custody of Maya’s three children to Maricris, according to CBS News.
The search effort continued through vigils, rallies, merchandise and QR-coded flyers. CBS News reported that supporters raised more than $50,000 for search efforts.
Anyone with information about Maya Millete’s disappearance is asked to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or the Chula Vista Police Department at 619-691-5139.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.